From Patio to Landfill: The Environmental Cost of Outdoor Furniture

Millions of tons of furniture are tossed into landfills across the U.S. annually, and the amount increases yearly as trends change and fast furniture demand grows. This raises two crucial questions: What's the actual cost of our throwaway furniture culture? And more importantly, how can we shift toward sustainable consumer practices?

Keep reading to learn more about furniture waste, its environmental impact, and how we can help break the cycle.

To give a better perspective, let's look at the numbers.

While precise data for furniture waste on a global scale is currently limited, a 2024 report states that roughly 2.1 billion tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) were collected in 2020. It goes on to project that by 2050, the amount will grow to 3.8 billion tons (a 56% increase) if significant changes aren't made (Lenkiewicz et al., 2024). Furniture is classified as MSW, so it's likely that the portion and global impact are substantial, though more research is needed to understand the full scope.

In a 2022 study, the EPA tested 200 landfills across the U.S. and found that over 95% contained PFAS in the leachate. Concentrations of individual PFAS compounds reached as high as 14,000 parts per trillion in some instances (EPA, “Program Plan,” 2023).

This problem is similar to the impact of "fast fashion" in the clothing industry: mass-produced, low-cost clothes made with materials that aren't meant to last. Their limited durability puts them on the fast track to landfills, where they accumulate and, like discarded furniture, leach harmful substances into the environment and contribute to long-term pollution.

Now, let's explore common patio furniture materials and the effects each one has on the environment.

While PVC, PS, and similar plastics are difficult to recycle, others—like HDPE—can be reused in perpetuity. When coupled with thoughtful designs, plastic can support circularity instead of waste.

The EPA estimates that in 2018, roughly 27.8% (4.7 million tons) of ferrous metals, i.e., metals containing iron as the primary element, from furniture, appliances, and other durable goods were recycled in the U.S. (EPA, “Ferrous Metals,” 2024).

Despite their recyclability, metal furniture can still end up in landfills due to limited access to recycling programs or services. Moreover, in some cases, unprotected or coated metals can leach harmful substances like cadmium or zinc into the environment, which pose risks to human health and ecosystems.

As a cost-effective solution, manufacturers treat their wooden furniture with chemicals or create a composite blend of wood, glues, and hardening agents. Both options increase durability and performance, but render recycling impossible and contaminate landfill environments with formaldehyde and other VOCs as they break down.

As a result, worn-out fabrics find their way to landfills and eventually break down into pollution-causing microplastics, which may release residual substances like antimony or fluorinated chemicals into the environment.

Let’s explore a hypothetical scenario: a family’s journey toward a sustainable lifestyle.

There are manufacturers taking a different approach, however. They’re focusing on long-term value and designing furniture with longevity, durability, and end-of-life recyclability in mind.

• Researching local recycling programs and donation centers
• Experimenting with upcycling and DIY projects
• Teaching their kids about recycling through fun and engaging activities

A circular, or closed-loop, economy strives to minimize waste and maximize resource usage. It differs from a linear economy in which products are built, consumed, and then discarded. Instead, a circular economy focuses on extending the lives of products and materials through reusing, repurposing, repairing, and recycling.

• Economic growth: Resource efficiency reduces production costs, and increases in manufacturing and product design innovation create jobs.
• Environmental sustainability: Reusing and recycling materials reduces waste, pollution, and our reliance on raw materials.
• Resilient businesses: Companies that rely on recyclable materials and emphasize innovation in product design experience greater supply chain security, competitiveness, customer loyalty, and brand reputation.
• Increased product quality: High-quality designs crafted from reusable materials last longer and have smaller carbon footprints.
• Social benefits: Raising awareness about responsible consumerism and sustainable habits leads to pollution reduction and healthier communities (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2019).

• Reclaimed wood: Salvaged from old buildings and structures, people repurpose this material into decking and various furnishings. It's a resourceful way to conserve rare and endangered wood varieties and preserve a piece of history.
• FSC-certified wood: Materials certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, a trusted global leader in sustainable forestry, come from responsibly managed forests that maintain high economic, social, and environmental standards.
• Plant-based materials: Cork, bamboo, and jute are fast-growing and biodegradable, ideal alternatives that allow us to build quality outdoor furnishings while minimizing our environmental impact.
• Upcycled furniture: Giving pre-loved pieces a second chance to bring comfort and beauty to a home conserves natural resources and encourages creativity in sustainable design.
• Biodegradable packaging: Biodegradable or compostable packaging breaks down naturally and returns to the earth.
• Water-based adhesives and finishes: Using water-based alternatives over chemical-filled paints and glues reduces emissions, improving air quality and a product's recyclability.
• Recyclable aluminum: Aluminum can be recycled repeatedly without losing quality. This reduces our reliance on virgin aluminum production, decreasing mining and energy consumption.
• Recyclable HDPE plastic: This safe, durable, and infinitely recyclable plastic is used to craft various products, such as detergent bottles and outdoor furniture. Relying on this reusable material conserves non-renewable resources and gives slow-growing resources, like wood and cotton, a chance to replenish.

Here, we'll review some barriers to sustaining a closed-loop economy and their possible workarounds.

POLYWOOD was the first to craft outdoor furniture from recycled HDPE plastic in 1990, making us industry pioneers. We continuously refine our in-house recycling, extrusion, and production processes, and collaborate with like-minded organizations and individuals to maintain our promise to protect the planet.

All POLYWOOD furniture is designed and made in the USA by skilled craftspeople. We recycle 99% of post-production plastic scraps, turning them into durable products while reducing our carbon footprint, minimizing waste, and continuing toward a closed-loop manufacturing process.

1. de Souza Pinho, G. C., Calmon, J. L., Medeiros, D. L., Vieira, D., & Bravo, A. (2023). Wood Waste Management from the furniture industry: The environmental performances of recycling, energy recovery, and landfill treatments. Sustainability, 15(20), 14944. https://doi.org/10.3390/su152014944.
2. Dcuribe. (2024, January 24). Furniture waste in the U.S.: What you can do. Office of Sustainability - Student Blog. https://usfblogs.usfca.edu/sustainability/2024/01/24/furniture-waste-in-the-u-s-what-you-can-do/. 
3. Ellen MacArthur Foundation. (2019, November 14). The Basics of Circular Economy | Ellen MacArthur Foundation. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkfkMNnRO14&t. 
4. Lenkiewicz, Z., Bernardes, F., HalpaHenriqueap, A., Louzada, L., Ramola, A., Silva Filho, C., Henrique, H., Souza, S., Smith, J., Ternald, D., & Wilson, D. (2024). (rep.). (J. Smith, Ed.). Global Waste Management Outlook 2024: Beyond an age of waste – Turning rubbish into a resource. United Nations Environment Programme. Retrieved October 30, 2024, from https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/44939/global_waste_management_outlook_2024.pdf?sequence=3. 
5. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2023). Durable Goods: Product-Specific Data. EPA. https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/durable-goods-product-specific-data. 
6. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2024, November 8) Ferrous Metals: Material-Specific Data. EPA. https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/ferrous-metals-material-specific-data. 
7. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2024, April 1). Guide to the Facts and Figures Report About Materials, Waste and Recycling. EPA. https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/national-overview-facts-and-figures-materials. 
8. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2023, January). Preliminary Effluent Guidelines Program Plan 15 (EPA 821-R-22-003). https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2023-01/11143_ELG%20Plan%2015_508.pd.